Improvement in metallic shutters



w. H.'RODDEN.

Metallic Sh utters.

Patented Jan- 28, 1873.

In venra VVzZ asses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HENRY RODDEN, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC SHUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,246, dated January28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY Ron- DEN, of the city of Toronto, inthe county of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented anImproved Metallic Venetian Blind and Shutter; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification-Figure 1 being a view of the inner side of the shutter Fig. 2, atransverse vertical section of the shutter looking in one direction, theslats being closed; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section thereof,looking in an opposite direction, the slats being open.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The purpose of my invention is to so construct the shutter as to possessthe properties of aVenetian blind or sun shade, and to be ordinarilyfire and burglar proof, the construction being substantially as hereinspecified.

The frame A of the shutter is made of the required form and dimensions,and of angle iron or steel, as represented, the sides of the iron beinggenerally from three-fourths of an inch to one and one half inch wide.It is hinged to the building, or to the window or doorframe, in anysuitable or usual manner, and is provided with a suitable fastening. Theshutter-frame is provided with loose or rolling slats B B, of anysuitable metal, but preferably of sheet-steel, and having a plane orcorrugated surface, the latter being preferred, as shown in the drawing,because of the additional strength and stifiness as well as beauty ofappearance imparted to them thereby. These slats, at their ends, arebent at right angles, or to an angle fitting the inner surface of theshutter-frame, so as to form bearings a a, that are perforated toreceive rivets b b secured in the sides of the frame and serving aspivots, on which the slats turn. These rivets are shouldered where theirprojecting ends are in contact with the sides of the frame, so that theymay be headed firmly to the frame, and not bind the bearings of theslats, nor prevent their turning freely thereon. The pivot-holes of theslats are nearer to the inner than the outer edges thereof, so that theouter edges have a greater movement than the inner, and

open and close quickly by comparatively little movement imparted to theinner edges. The slats thereby are less shaken, and remain more firmlyin position when subjected to a strong wind. The upper or inner edge ofeach slat is bent or folded over and wired in the fold, either the wholelength of the slat or only a short portion of the middle thereof. Thewire 0 passes through a hole in the upright working rod or bar 0, theslats being notched to receive the edge of the rod. By this means asimple, accurate, strong, and free connection is made between all of theslats and the rod.

The slats are opened, and closed, and locked in position by means ofthis working rod or bar and an operating and locking device constructedand arranged in connection therewith, substantially as follows: The lockis mounted, to protect and guard it, in a suitable case, D, attached toa crossbar, E, which is secured to the sides of the frame in a convenient position for the lock. The bar E is suitably made of angle-iron,like the frame A, and it serves to strengthen or brace the mid dlethereof in addition to its main use. It also serves as a convenienthandle by which to swing the shutter out or in. The said look ing deviceis composed essentially of a quick threaded screw, G, with a handle orknob, f, on one end to turn it by, and a worm-wheel, H, which gears intothe screw, and has a crank pin, g, on one side to receive one end of aconnecting-rod, I, the other end of which is attached to the uprightworking bar or rod 0 or the crank-pin may work in a hole in the baritself or a projection thereof. A curved slot, h, in the side of thelock-case D allows the crank-pin to project through, and this slot mayserve to limit the movement given to the shutter-slats.

As the screw G is turned it turns the worm-wheel H, and thereby opens orcloses the slats according to the direction in which the screwknob isturned; and it firmly holds the worm-wheel from turning in any position,so that the slats are securely held at whatever angle they are placed;and when closed up to form a shutter they are securely locked there, sothat no one on the outside can open them without using such violence aswill destroy the shutter.

I place knobs or projecting studs at the corners or elsewhere on theshutter frame to protect the slats from injury should the'shutter bethrown out violently against the wall of the building when the slats areprojecting beyond the surface of the rame.

Thus this shutter possesses all the advantages of the Venetian blind orsun-shade, and even surpasses it in neatness and lightness of appearanceand in durability. At the same time it is a great safeguard againstfires, being wholly of metal, and close. It is also burglar-proof inproportion to its strength, which may be increased to any desired degreefor the purpose required.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

Witnesses DAVIDSON BLACK, A. CHRISTIE.

